My objections to capital punishment stem from the fact that it is more expensive than life imprisonment and that it's ability to deter future crimes cannot be firmly established. As this terrible crime happened in NY, which has not executed anyone since 1963 and whose highest court found its death penalty statute unconstitutional (state constitution), the prosecutor will not seek the death penalty

My only big issue with the death penalty is that I have zero faith in our justice system to actually give a damn if the person being executed is, in fact, guilty. Too many people have proven to be innocent while on death row or after execution. And even if that can be fixed, capital punishment should still be rare and saved for extreme cases.

The guy in the story? I have zero moral qualms about him being put to death, IF he's truly guilty.

The problem I have with the death penalty is, as already stated, the possibility of convicting an innocent person. I also am conflicted on whether another human being should get to choose the fate of another.

However, I do feel that if any crime deserves the death penalty, it should be the rape of a child. That is a sick person who cannot be fixed and should not be allowed to share the air the rest of the world breathes.

If the death penalty meant the felon would be executed within a reasonable time frame then I'd be for it for certain cases like this and Jodi Arias. But they sit on death row for years and some die on death row. What's the point for death then? Also many inmates having a rough time in jail would rather have death than go on like this. So in this case, don't kill them!

What purpose does it serve except to feed the bloodlust of the basest of human instincts? It doesn't deter crime, it doesn't bring back the victim or restore their family to the way they were, it doesn't salvage or rehabilitate the offender's life. Nor does it correct the underlying social problems that often lead to crime. And mistakes can be made.

Plus the question doesn't make sense - if you're opposed to the death penalty, you're opposed to it in all situations. And I hate to say it, but this isn't even the worst or most senseless and brutal of crimes possible.

A trial isn't fool-proof. There are so many factors and variables that influence the outcome. We try to make it as fail-safe as possible, but it is a human process run by humans. Even the appeal process doesn't necessarily cure all defects.

I really struggle with my feelings about the death penalty. I hate the practice, but what has the murderer himself done (in the cases with which I'm most familiar)?
Does he deserve better than what he gave? I just don't know.

As for child rape, I can't wrap my mind around it enough to think through an appropriate punishment. Something hellish is all I can manage.

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Too many people have proven to be innocent while on death row or after execution. And even if that can be fixed, capital punishment should still be rare and saved for extreme cases.

The guy in the story? I have zero moral qualms about him being put to death, IF he's truly guilty.

Originally Posted by legends

This sums up how I feel about it.

Just look at Charles Manson. Life in prison and he has gotten his hands on weapons, and cell phones, numerous times and likes to tell people exactly how dangerous he still is. Some calls he made to people in other states and countries, in the past 5 or 6 years, are still being investigated. We already know he has quite the hold on some people.

I'm admittedly simple minded. If his semen is in the girl, he should die. Let his family choose the labs (10 or 100) that does the tests. If it's his semen, he should die. That won't deter other people but it will certainly deter him. If it's not his, then put him in prison for life because of the child porno.

Until he dies - whether a needle or natural causes -, the victims' family will be paying for his housing, health care, education if he wants, food, legal fees and whatever else he wants through their taxes.

If we used the death penalty more often, it may be more of a deterrent. We dont use it enough. But since we dont use it, we need to get rid of it because it is so costly to hold inmates on death row.
Inmates at least in CA get way too many privileges. In fact they get a lot more than a lot of working citizens who have no violent criminal history. It's disgusting!
Depending on his race, he may get killed in prison. But not always. I have absolutely no sympathy for garbage like this.

I really struggle with my feelings about the death penalty. I hate the practice, but what has the murderer himself done (in the cases with which I'm most familiar)?
Does he deserve better than what he gave? I just don't know.

As for child rape, I can't wrap my mind around it enough to think through an appropriate punishment. Something hellish is all I can manage.

Originally Posted by claudine19

claudine, get out of my head.

I didn't realize that I struggled internally with the concept of the death penalty, until the Timothy McVeigh execution happened. I had a very difficult time with it that day, as I watched the tv coverage of the execution. Does putting this criminal to death really avenge the injustice of his vile actions? Is it right for the justice system to kill in the name of justice? Should humans really make that decision?

That and the real possibility of innocence. The never ending process of appeals, that cost money to the taxpayer is a (secondary) concern as well.

Until he dies - whether a needle or natural causes -, the victims' family will be paying for his housing, health care, education if he wants, food, legal fees and whatever else he wants through their taxes.

Originally Posted by Myradella3

And if he's executed, I'll be paying for the premeditated killing of a human being.

I've been asked the question in the OP before, and it's very patronizing. Could I really be unaware that there's such thing as rapists and murderers? Would I really form my opinion without considering the terrible things people do?

Speaking of which, the death penalty is one of the terrible things people do. All execution does is fulfill our own hunger for violence. It's well established that it's completely ineffective for any other purpose. And I do not accept retribution as a reason to kill someone.